Another sterling observation from Seth Godin on September 29:

It’s worth remembering that if someone knows how to do something, that means, with sufficient effort, you could probably learn it too. You might not be willing to put in the time and effort, but it’s learnable.

It reminds me about 20 years ago when I was teaching a Sunday School class with my friend Chris Morton, now serving with The Navigators in England. At the time Chris would have been about 30 years old. We were discussing a particular scripture and where it was, and one of the class members said, “Oh, you guys just know everything.”

I said, “No, actually we don’t, but we have been intentional about learning the scripture. Besides, Chris has been a believer only about five years. Today we’re teaching the book of Ruth. If you pay attention, you, too, can be knowledgeable.” (And, of course, it’s not just knowledge for its own sake; it’s putting the Word into practice.)

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. (Isaiah 28.10, KJV)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1.22 – 25, NIV)